I want to start this month's newsletter by saying "Thank You!" Thank you to the many District 1 volunteers who have been stepping up to help improve our neighborhoods and make a difference! As we struggle with our dire economy in these uncertain times, I have asked you to help pick up some of the slack left by budget cuts and service reductions. You have responded in spades.

I recall on a recent Saturday -- April 25 to be exact -- I was running around the district trying to support five different community events all before noon. As I reflected on the day and all the various people that I met and came across, I was blown away by the sheer number of people volunteering their time and energy in the spirit of community service. These events included:

• District 1 Great American Litter Pick-Up - 65 volunteers
• Our City Forest John Mise Park Tree Planting - 45 volunteers
• Our City Forest Westmont High School Tree Planting - 36 volunteers
• Hathaway Park Blood Drive Donations - 32 volunteers
• West Side Neighborhood Association Clean-Up & Garage Sale - 20 volunteers

Almost 200 volunteers donated their time in various ways on this one particular Saturday - and this number is based only on the events that I attended. This doesn’t include an event at Lynhaven Elementary School and the countless parents putting in their time every Saturday at the Little League fields.

When I ran for office, I campaigned on the pledge that I would strengthen our neighborhoods and build a stronger sense of community. Seeing everyone in action on April 25 proved that we're on the right track. I am grateful and proud that as District 1 residents we are coming together and building, strengthening and improving our communities. As the saying goes, "many hands make light work." This couldn't be more true and profound. When each of us does our little part to share in the burden, the load becomes so much lighter and great things get accomplished.

Another example of our power in numbers, was my call to action on the City's tree removal process and permit fees. We won a big victory for homeowners' rights. City staff had recommended an expensive tree removal process that could have cost you up to $1,000 to remove a tree from your own backyard. Together we convinced my colleagues to direct staff to ease tree removal restrictions and reduce unnecessary fees. A revised proposal will return to the Council for final approval in the near future. This would not have been possible without the great turn-out of interested constituents showing their support for basic homeowners' rights.

The overwhelming number of residents who came to support installing internet filtering technology in the children's areas of San José libraries were disappointed when the city council voted against the proposal. Although we were not successful in our attempt to protect our children, we fought the good fight. Click here to read how the vote went and what you can do to keep the fight going.

The City must close an $85 million budget deficit for next year. On May 1, 2009, City Manager, Debra Figone, released the proposed operating budget for the next fiscal year (2009-2010). You can read a detailed summary of the budget proposal by clicking here. If you would like to learn more about what the City is proposing or provide input, I encourage you join me at the District 1 Community Townhall Meeting on the budget Monday, May 11, at Archbishop Mitty High School. For more details on the District 1 Townhall budget meeting and a glimpse at some of my budget balancing proposals, click here. (Click here to view the event flyer.)

As a retired San José police officer, I am passionate about issues relating to public safety. A new cause that I will be championing, and one that is close to my heart, is for the creation of a public safety memorial at City Hall. Please click here to read more about what is being planned and how you can help.

Thank you again to all of the countless District 1 volunteers performing community service in neighborhoods throughout our district. I hope your acts of kindness will keep you motivated to continue making a difference and inspire others to step up, roll up their sleeves and join in our cause.

Your Neighbor,

P.S. Please feel free to drop by my community office hours from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 6, at West Valley Library and on Thursday, May 21, from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., at Immanuel Presbyterian Church. I look forward to seeing you!

PETE IN THE NEWS

May 4, 2009
West San José Resident, S.T.A.N.D. course gives students new resources to stay out of gangs
District 1 Councilman Pete Constant says, "What really makes this program unique is that it really gets the kids before there is a problem. It gives them the education and tools they need to make the right decisions.” . . ."If we are going to make a difference, now is the time we need to get in there and stop the gang trend from going up," Constant said.

May 2, 2009
San José Mercury News, Nonprofits plead for funding from San Jose in thin year for budget,...
San Jose Councilmen Pete Constant and Pierluigi Oliverio have suggested that much of the money the city pays to nonprofits be suspended. Constant defended his view that some Healthy Neighborhoods money should pay for city services like crossing guards rather than nonprofit programs. The city council will decide in late May how much money, the city's Healthy Neighborhood Venture Fund, will go to the nonprofits.

April 28 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Mayor Reed: San Jose council should be involved in picking police auditor
Councilman Pete Constant, along with Councilmember Campos, agreed on the top four to be interviewed by a council and community panel, as well as the top two that would be interviewed by the full council. Amid developments of Mayor Reed’s assignment of Independent Police Auditor, Constant and Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio back the mayor's account and say he clearly disclosed the potential conflict of Chris Constantin's brother being on the force.

April 21 2009
San José Mercury News, San Jose council votes down porn filters at public library computers
Constant, who suggested porn filters in October 2007 after news surfaced that men were viewing sexually explicit images on city library computers, proposed along with Reed that the city adopt a policy similar to Santa Clara County libraries. A year and a half of debate came to a head late Tuesday when the City Council rejected spending money on the technology.

April 21 2009
San José Mercury News, San Jose civilian police watchdog announces he is resigning
Councilman Pete Constant, along with Mayor Reed, steadfastly stayed in Chris Constantin's corner, saying they saw nothing wrong about the relationship before they voted unanimously to approve the appointment. Amid mounting criticism inside and outside City Hall, San Jose's civilian police watchdog resigned Monday evening, less than a week after his appointment.

April 17, 2009
San José Mercury News, New police watchdog's brother is a San Jose cop
Councilman Pete Constant, a former police officer, along with Mayor Chuck Reed gave statements seeing nothing wrong with the new independent police auditor having a brother on the department. Independent Police Auditor Chris Constantin revealed publicly Friday during an interview with the Mercury News that his older brother, George Constantin, is an officer.

April 12, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Herhold: A new development in San José's cultural wars
Constant now wants filters on any computers used by kids in branch libraries; a clear policy that says library customers are not to look at filth in the view of kids; and an on-off switch that would allow adults to choose whether they wanted filters.... "I think they (Liccardo, Kalra and Chirco) agree there is a problem that needs to be addressed," he told me.

April 11, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, San José City Council to reconsider porn filters at libraries
"There have been multiple complaints of lewd acts and public indecency," Constant said in a memorandum to the council, that "are not discouraged or even addressed by the city's current computer use policy." ... Constant and Mayor Chuck Reed urge a stronger stance that would essentially mirror the policy in Santa Clara County libraries. It would start with making computer users when they log in acknowledge city policy to be mindful that children may be present and to behave accordingly.

April 9, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, San José's workers' comp costs exceed comparable cities
Constant added that the large number of workers' compensation claims by officers and firefighters before retiring on disability should be expected; if someone retired on disability without having filed injury claims on the job, he said, "we should be questioning that disability retirement." ... Constant said that while the audit raises valid concerns, he would oppose offsetting disability pensions with workers' compensation benefits for officers and firefighters - as is already done for the city's civilian workers - or reducing their disability leave pay.

April 6, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Reed, San José community leaders concerned over misdemeanor arrests of Latinos
Councilman Pete Constant, a former San José police officer, said the appearance of racial profiling and an overaggressive, unchecked police force was false. "I don't think there is any conspiracy where the police say 'Let's go out and hunt this group,' " Constant said. "What you hear from people is that they want us to crack down on people who are drunk and obnoxious and urinating in the street. The general public expects us to set a standard of conduct and enforce these nuisance crimes."

Councilmember Pete Constant
District 1, City of San José
200 East Santa Clara Street,
18th Floor
San José, CA 95113
Telephone: (408) 535-4901
Fax: (408) 292-6448
Pete.Constant@sanjoseca.gov
www.sjdistrict1.com

Inside this Issue:

• Pete's Message
• Internet Filtering
• Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Budget
• Public Safety Memorial

Helpful Links for D1 Residents:

• Pete's Calendar
• Council Agenda
• Live and Archived Council Meetings
• District 1 Map
• Photos of District 1 Events
• District 1 Neighborhood Groups
• Pete and District 1 in the News
• Parks in District 1
• District 1 Staff
• Review permits in San José

Service Providers for D1 Residents:

Connecting to your government:

• Mayor and Council
• San José Charter
• San José Municipal Code
• San José Boards and Commissions
• Santa Clara County
• Registrar of Voters
• Guide to Government
• State of California
• U.S. Government

Important Phone Numbers:

Questions?
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